Monday, March 7, 2011

The last time I got Chinese food delivered, there was (and I'm not kidding here) a grasshopper in the fried rice. It's been a good four months since I ordered Chinese food. Maybe some overzealous Chinese food advocates heard about my plight, because this past February, insecticides found in batches of Chinese dumplings triggered a massive, 12 ton food recall in Japan.

Nothing quite brings out the flavor in D-grade Chinese pork like insecticide. Sure, a bunch of people got sick and a little girl went into a coma... but at least here weren't any insects. Am I RIGHT, people!?

If you've ever had a baby (I haven't), you know that the last thing they want is cold food or a cold bottle (is that true?). Enter Munchkin Inc., a California-based company thrilled to present you with the latest technology in baby bottle and food warming, the aptly named Munchkin Inc. Baby Bottle and Food Warmer. It seems perfect, right? Too perfect.

Your instincts are correct, because an even more appropriate name for this device would be the Munchkin Inc. House Incinerator. It seems that the Chinese manufactured product was not content with simply heating baby food and aspired to heating up entire neighborhoods. Fortunately, nobody was ever actually injured by one of these, but can you imagine if they were? Man, that would have been hilarious.

Last June, Dollar Store shoppers everywhere were shocked to find out the nickel-a-tube Chinese toothpaste they've been using might not be all that good for them. In fact, this wonderful toothpaste might have a dangerous poison in it that's normally found in antifreeze. I know a lot of glib, cynical motherfuckers would take this opportunity to say "You get what you pay for!" But it's my understanding that Anti Freeze is more expensive than tooth paste. In which case, thanks for the bargain, China!

Last summer, federal officials ordered the recall of almost a half million tires imported from China after they learned that the manufacturer had discontinued a process that kept the tires from separating.

Separating. As in, coming apart. While you drive.

I'm not entirely sure this was a wise move. We Americans are natural thrill seekers, and probably would have relished the chance to tumble down a ravine after our tires decided to go back to being strips of rubber. I mean, if it sounds fun, it probably is fun, right?

One of the earliest Chinese recalls was the lead paint toy recall. Now, let's face it... if your kid is putting his toys in his mouth, he's pretty retarded. If you see an action figure and think "food" rather than "doll," your problems aren't gonna end with a little Chinese toy recall. Regardless, it's still pretty creepy knowing that the Barbie doll your son is fondling might make him as sick as a project housing baby raised on the Sherwin-Williams diet. Also, what about us adults who like to play with toys? And when I say "play," I mean "use to stimulate our anal g spots"? China, you make me sick!

It seems fairly obvious that China doesn't want us owning pets.

In April of last year, the FDA blocked all wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. after an investigation showed that their lots of gluten were tainted with the chemical melamine. Melamine was, not-so-coincidentally, the chemical responsible for causing kidney failure in a number of pets across the country, and which resulted in the pet food recalls of the previous months. It's not clear how much if any of the gluten found its way into the human food supply, nor is it clear exactly how the melamine -- a chemical you'd expect to find around plastic manufacturing -- got into the gluten in the first place. One thing that is clear, though, is that China fucking hates cats and dogs. They hate them. And they'll stop at nothing.

The Chinese are great at making cheap, effective blood thinner. Oh wait, blood thinner is a medicine? I thought it was some shit we used on "evil doers." Ah, never mind then. That shit sucks.

The recalled blood thinner, Heparin, was problematic because of a classic case of Chinese switcheroo -- rather than deliver raw heparin, the crafty Chinese "scientists" cut it with chondroitin sulfate, a cheap product made out of PIG INTESTINES that KILLS PEOPLE. Ah, no one will be the wiser.

TTU was founded by Mme Dang Thi Hoang Yen.Mme Yen is driven by her dream of leaving Vietnamese younger generations the lasting gift of a quality education.Below is some information on our founder and her passion for philanthropy.

Tan Tao University owes its founding to a seed planted in the mind of a young girl by her father.“Education can change your life…” Dang Thi Hoang Yen’s father told her.“I have nothing left for you, but only to support you for education….”

Today the Chairwoman and CEO of Tan Tao Group, the leading industrial park and infrastructure developer in Vietnam,Mme Yen is determined to inspire today’s young people with that simple but powerful idea: a top quality education is the most valuable thing you can have.

In founding Tan Tao University, Mme Yen has committed her enthusiasm, her time and her wealth to the creation of a university that will open its doors to outstanding students from all parts of Vietnam, regardless of their financial circumstances.She wants this to be a new model for education in Vietnam and Asia:a university of opportunity for young men and women willing to work and to learn, determined to follow their dreams, and committed to helping their families and their country.She believes students at TTU must have opportunity, talent and, most important, “heart” ─ the passion to serve others and to help their country advance.

Mme Yen graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics. After working for the Vietnamese Government for 13 years, she then moved on to create her first company, the Tan Tao Group, in 1993.The Group has created hundreds of thousands of jobs across Vietnam and provided a solid platform for the country’s rapid economic progress. It now has 21 subsidiaries across multiple sectors, including land development, construction and media broadcasting.ITACO – the publicly listed subsidiary of Tan Tao Group - became one of seven blue-chip stocks to be chosen part of the Global Russell Vietnam Index 10 and the Standard & Poor Vietnam 10 Index. TEDC, the energy subsidiary of the Group, has been developing one of the largest power plants in Vietnam, with a total investment of 3.0 billion USD, and the plant will go online in 2014.

Mme Yen believes strongly that Vietnam must have a very good system of higher education in order to advance.“Educated minds”would be her most important legacy.To develop her vision of an entirely new kind of Vietnamese university, Mme Yen studied the experiences of universities in other countries.

She visited Rice University, Oxford University and Harvard University, and there she observed the libraries, residence and dining halls, the academic programs, and the close relationships between faculty and students.She came away impressed by the breadth of university education on the liberal arts model and the importance of a campus environment – dining halls, dormitories, libraries, faculty and staff housing, playing fields and campus centers – in top quality higher education. Examples from outstanding universities have inspired her vision for TTU’s campus.

A master plan for the development of a campus was drawn up in 2006, and the dream of a Vietnamese–American university that can be accredited on U.S. education standards has become a reality.Looking to the future, Mme Yen expects that many students at the university will be able to spend their 3rd year abroad and that graduates of TTU will be admitted to post-graduate programs internationally.

Mme Yen’s philanthropy is not limited to TanTao University.In 2007, she founded ITA Scholarship, ITA Medical Aid, and ITA Veterans Assistance for the purpose of providing education, medical support and financial assistance to the needy in Vietnam. Annually, thousands of scholarships are awarded to outstanding students nationwide.

Mme Yen has been awarded numerous significant business prizes and honors including Business Super Star Awards, Golden Rose Award, the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Merit, to name a few.Mme Yen is the current Chair of the Vietnam-U.S. Business Forum, Co-Chair of ASEAN Business & Investment Summit 2010, and a Member of ASEAN Business Advisory Council.

Malcolm Gillis was President of Rice University from 1993 to 2004. Currently, he is University Professor and Ervin Kenneth Zingler Professor of Economics at Rice. During 1991-1993 he served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Duke University. Dr. Gillis spent the first 25 years of his professional life teaching economics and bringing economic analysis to bear on important issues of public policy in nearly 20 countries, from the United States and Canada to Ecuador, Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia and Korea. From 1986 to 2004, his career was devoted primarily, but not exclusively, to university leadership and to substantial service to his profession, governments, foundations and several for-profit and non-profit boards. Professor Gillis chaired the Vietnam Education Foundation from 2005 to 2008, and he is co-chair of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, which opened in 2008. He served as chair of Bio Houston from 2006 to 2009. He is a founding member of the board at Jacob University in Bremen, Germany, and was also the founder (2001) of the Texas/UK research collaborative on Nanotechnology and Biotechnology, based at Rice University.

Professor Levy is Andrew Hays Buchanan Professor of Astrophysics in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Rice University (Texas). He served as Provost of Rice University from 2000 to 2010. Prior to joining Rice, Professor Levy was a faculty member at the University of Arizona, where he was also head of the Planetary Sciences Department; Director of the Lunar & Planetary Laboratory (1983-1994); and Dean of the College of Science (1993-2000).Research by Dr. Levy has focused on a variety of areas of theoretical astrophysics and planetary geophysics, including investigations into the origin, behavior, and influences of cosmic magnetic fields and physical processes associated with star and planet-system formation. Throughout his career Professor Levy has served as a member or chair of numerous science-program and policy advisory committees, both national and international. He currently chairs the Board of Trustees of Associated Universities, Inc., a not-for-profit NGO that operates major scientific facilities in the public interest. He also serves as chair of the NASA Planetary Protection Committee, as a member of the NASA Advisory Council Science Committee, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the NASA Space Biomedical Research Institute. Professor Levy earned his A.B. in physics from Rutgers University and his Ph.D., also in physics, from the University of Chicago.

Professor Lange has been the Provost at Duke University since 1999. He joined the Department of Political Science at Duke University after teaching at Harvard University. Professor Lange earned his B.A. from Oberlin College in 1967 and his Ph.D. from the Department of Political Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1975. Professor Lange has been awarded numerous fellowships including a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in 1967 and a Fulbright Research Scholar award (Milan, Italy) in 1986. Professor Lange focuses his research on politics and political economy.

Dr. Vaughn was appointed Executive Vice President of the Association of American Universities in October 1996. The Association was established in 1900 and is composed of 63 leading research universities in the U.S. and Canada. As Executive Vice President, he oversees policy studies, supervising the Associations work in developing national and institutional policies that support the missions of the member universities. He has specific responsibility for Association activities in the areas of intellectual property, information technology, research libraries, and scholarly communication. In addressing these areas, he works with member presidents and chancellors, chief academic officers, and government officials. Dr. Vaughn received his B.A. in Psychology from Eastern Washington State College in 1968. In 1977, he received a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Minnesota. He was awarded an NIH Postdoctoral Traineeship and served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Duke University.

Dr. Henry is President of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the management of information for research, teaching, and learning. He has been publisher of the Rice University Press, which was recently reborn as the nations first all-digital university press. Dr. Henry serves on the advisory board of Stanford University Libraries and on the boards of the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education and the Center for Research Libraries. He is also a member of the European Unions scientific commission on Open Access Publishing in the European Networks (OAPEN), and he serves on the editorial board of Brill Publishers new series on scholarly communication. Previously, Dr. Henry was vice provost and university librarian at Rice University. He received a Fulbright award for the study of medieval literature in Vienna, Austria as a graduate student, and recently received a Fulbright senior scholar grant for library sciences in China. He has a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Columbia University.

A renowned architect in the United States and abroad, Mr. MacPhillimy is a principal and partner of Morris Architects in Houston, Texas. He holds many advanced certifications and memberships, including AIA and LEED. He also serves as the Texas Society of Architects Director for the American Institute of Architects Houston Chapter, and as a member of the TSA BIM Taskforce, through which he works regionally to promote the broad adoption of Building Information Modeling across the design and construction industry. As the founding chair of the Houston Building Enclosure Council, Mr. MacPhillimy is a strong proponent of sustainability and technically-sound building-exterior construction. His other affiliations include the AIA-AGC Joint Committee. He assisted in the master plan development and initial building concepts for Tan Tao University, and has served as principal-in-charge of such commissions as the Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University, as well as the M.D. Anderson Library and Honors College at the University of Houston.

Professor Xuan is the Honorary Rector of An Giang University and the former Vice-Rector of Can Tho University. He is well-known in rice research in Vietnam and around the world. Professor Xuan is also a member of many international foundations and councils, including the Rockefeller Foundation, Asian Institute of Management, International Potato Center, and the International Rice Research Institute. He has been awarded many prestigious honors, such as The Peoples Teacher and The Labor Hero.

Mme Dang Thi Hoang Yen is the founder and main sponsor of Tan Tao University. She is also one of the key founders of Tan Tao Group and has been the Chairwoman of the Board of Management since November 1996. With more than 11 years of experience in land development in Vietnam, she has overall responsibility for establishing the business objectives and strategies of the Tan Tao Group and for the general management of the company. Mme Yen has also been the Chairwoman of the Board of Management of New Orient, an export-import company, since July 1993, overseeing the general management and operations of the company. In addition, she is the president of US Southern Homes, LP, a residential development company, and US Southern Corporation, a land development company.

Mme Yen graduated from the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City with a Bachelors degree in economics in August 1980. She also earned a Masters degree in business administration from the Economics & Philosophy Institute in August 1988.

Mme Yen has been a member of the US Global Institute, the International Medical Institute, and the U.S. Global Primary & Secondary Educational Foundation since January 2006. In April 2007 she was the founder of the ITA Scholarship, ITA Medical Aid, and ITA Veterans Assistance (collectively known as the ITA Foundations) for the purpose of providing education, medical support and financial assistance to the needy in Vietnam. Mme Yen was awarded the Super Star for Non-State Run Company in Vietnam in December 2007 and was honored with the distinguished Golden Rose Award by the Vice Prime Minister of Vietnam in March 2008. Currently, Mme Yen is the Chairwoman of the Tan Tao University Board of Trustees

Most of the these health benefits of fish oil can be attributed to the presence of Omega 3 essential fatty acids such as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Other useful essential fatty acids include Alpha-linolenic acid or ALA and Gamma-linolenic acid or GLA.

The various types of fish which can be a good source of fish oil are mackerel, rainbow trout, lake trout, halibut, herring, sea bass, sardines, swordfish, oysters, albacore tuna, blue fin tuna, yellow fin tuna, turbot, pilchards, anchovies and salmon. The most common names among these for obtaining fish oil are albacore tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and salmon. The type of fish used and the purity standards followed in refining the oil govern the quality of fish oil.

The health benefits of fish oil include the following:

Heart Disease: According to the American Heart Association (AHA), clinical trials have proved that omega 3 is effective in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Fish oil, which is abundant in omega 3, therefore, reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart arrhythmias. It lowers the levels of LDL cholesterol, which is bad cholesterol, and increases the HDL levels, which is good cholesterol. Fish oil prevents accumulation of triglycerides and further reduces the levels of excess triglycerides. Preliminary research has also shown that fish oil can be used for preventing atherosclerosis in coronary patients. Thus fish oil is effective in treating heart strokes and regular usage of fish oil can help avoid numerous sudden cardiac deaths. According to the American Heart Association, these preliminary findings should be confirmed by detailed research.

Weight Loss: Fish oil also aids in weight loss process. Research conducted by Professor Peter Howe at the University of South Australia has shown that fish oil improves the efficacy of exercise in reducing weight. Volunteers who were given fish oil diet showed greater weight loss as compared to those who did not consume fish oil diet. Exercise combined with fish oil had a positive effect on the body shape and body composition of the patients.

Blood Circulation: It is believed that fish oil has the ability to improve blood circulation along with reducing triglyceride and serum cholesterol levels.

Immunity: It is believed that regular consumption of fish oil aids in increasing your immunity thereby enabling you to resist incidence of common diseases such as cold, cough and flu. Omega three fatty acids present in fish oil benefit the immune system by effecting cytokines and eicosanoids present in our body. Researchers have also studied the effect of fish meal and fish oil on the immune system of pigs and found that fish oil aided in the growth of the animals. Similar research conducted on mice at Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, also gave positive results. Thus fish oil has the potential to enhance the immune system of humans. Fish oil is also beneficial to patients suffering from lupus, which is a disease characterized by the attacks of immune system of the body on various organs and tissues. Fish oil helps in reducing the pain and inflammation that may occur in joints, eyes, kidney, heart, blood vessels, lungs, nerves, etc. It also helps in reducing associated fever, skin rashes and fatigue.

Inflammation: Fish oil has anti inflammatory properties; therefore, it is effective in reducing inflammation in blood and tissues. Regular consumption of fish oil supplements, tablets, pills and capsules is helpful to those suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases. Fish oil is effective in treating gastrointestinal disorders, sprue, short bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis, which are typical disorders of the intestine. Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease find it difficult to absorb vitamins, fats and essential supplements. Fish oil supplements are an effective diet for such patients. In ulcerative colitis, fish oil prevents the accumulation of leukotriene on the colon. It should be noted that the anti inflammatory properties of fish oil are limited to reducing inflammation. Fish oil provides little effect in preventing inflammation. Research is also being conducted to enhance the anti-inflammatory action of fish oil by addition of other dietary supplements and drugs.

Arthritis: Fish oil is useful in treating arthritis, rheumatism, Raynaud’s symptoms and similar conditions. Usage of fish oil can help reducing the dosage of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia, and University of Newcastle, Australia have reported that large quantities of fish oil have shown positive effect on the treatment of arthritis. In case of osteoarthritis, fish oil can be helpful in reducing the impact of enzymes that destroy cartilages. However, since the dosage of fish oil required for desirable effect in the improvement of a patient is unknown, the Arthritis Center, Department of Rheumatology, John Hopkins University, considers including omega 3 fatty acids and fish oil in the treatment of arthritis as controversial. The University also cautions that there may appear certain side effect due to the use of fish oil in arthritis patients. Read more about arthritis on the webpage of Arthritis Foundation and Arthritis Center.

Depression and Anxiety: Due to the presence of Omega 3 fatty acids, fish oil is good for relieving depression, sadness, anxiety, restlessness, mental fatigue, stress, decreased sexual desire, suicidal tendencies and other nervous disorders. Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio in their research publication titled “Fish Oils and Bipolar Disorder: A Promising but Untested Treatment” state that fish oil can be useful in mood stabilizing and treating bipolar disorders. No wonder, it has been found that countries where fish is eaten often have low incidence of depression. Similarly research conducted on prisoners has shown that when prisoners were fed with sea food containing higher amount of omega three fatty acids, there was a significant drop in the homicide rate.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Research conducted at the Louisiana State University has shown that fatty acids are effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Since fish oil is one of the best sources of essential fatty acids including EPA and DHA, it helps in Alzheimer disease. Research conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) validates the usefulness of fish oil as a possible remedy for the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends fish containing higher content of omega three fatty acids to patients as it acts as a protective diet during Alzheimer disease and dementia.

ADHD or ADD: Fish oil has the ability to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) due to the high concentration of fatty acids. If your child suffers from hyperactivity, dyslexia, dyspraxia, inability to complete tasks, emotional instability, wavering attitude, poor coordination, short attention span, short term memory, low concentration, tendency to interrupt others, recklessness, hastiness, impetuosity, impulsiveness, low IQ, or learning disorders, fish oil supplements, tablets, pills or capsules are a proven remedy. Research conducted at the University of South Australia and CSIRO has shown that when children suffering from ADHD were given doses of fish oil and evening primrose capsules for 15 weeks, they showed significant improvement. Since brain consists of about 60% of fats, especially essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6, fish oil helps in improving the functioning of the brain. Further, it is believed that fish oil is useful in the normal development of the brain. It helps your kid concentrate on the studies better. It has been further found that when pregnant women are given regular doses of fish oil, the born toddlers show enhanced hand eye coordination. Facts about ADHD.

Eye Disorders: It is well known that fish oil is good for its ability to improve vision. It also helps in avoiding age related macular degeneration. The National Eye Institute at the National Institute of Health, US, plans to conduct a nation-wide study to evaluate the effect of fish oil in treating macular degeneration. This study will provide strong scientific evidence to the benefits of fish oil for eye care, thereby enabling government agencies and physicians to strongly recommend fish oil for macular degeneration.

Skin Care: Fish oil helps in improving the condition of poor and dry skin by making it shinny and glowing. It is useful in treating various skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, itching, redness of skin, skin lesions, and rashes. In case of psoriasis, the EPA present in fish oil restricts the growth of pro-inflammatory agents by producing arachidonic acid. Fish oil can also be applied topically to obtain relief from psoriasis. Regular intake of fish oil capsules helps in reducing loss of moisture from the skin. It is also claimed by some people that fish oil helps in preventing sunburns.

Acne: Fish oil is effective for acne as well. EPA is known to inhibit androgen formation. Androgen can affect the formation of sebum in hair follicle.

Cancer: Fish oil is useful in delaying weight loss in patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. Fish oil supplements can also be helpful to patients suffering from cancer related hyperlipidemia.

Diabetes: Type II diabetic patients are more prone to cardio vascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, and stroke. As mentioned above, fish oil is helpful in treating various heart problems. Research conducted at the University of Oxford, UK, has proved that fish oil is useful in reducing triglyceride levels in diabetes as well.

Ulcers: The symptoms of peptic ulcer include pain in the abdomen, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, loss in appetite, weight loss, etc. Due to the presence of EPA and DHA, fish oil can be helpful in case of ulcers caused by NSAIDs.

Pregnancy: Fish oil is very useful for pregnant women as DHA present in it helps in the development of the eyes and brain of the baby. It helps in avoiding premature births, low weight at birth, and miscarriage. Research conducted in Denmark, which involved 8,729 pregnant women, concluded that diet with low amounts of fish resulted in higher risk of premature or preterm babies. It is also believed that women who do not have a sufficient intake of EPA and DHA in their diet suffer from depression after birth as there is transfer of some amount of brain mass from the mother to the child in the last stages of pregnancy. Moreover, as mentioned above, when pregnant women are given fish oil supplements, the born kids show enhanced coordination between eye and hand. Thus it is very beneficial to consume fish oil either by eating fish or taking fish oil supplements, tablets, capsules, or pills during pregnancy for the overall development of the child and well being of the mother. However, it should be noted that fish oil obtained from the liver of the fish, example – cod liver oil, should not be consumed during pregnancy as cod liver oil is rich in retinol and vitamin A.

Fertility: Preliminary research conducted on boar has shown that when male boars are fed with diet containing fish oil, the quality of the sperm is enhanced. After ejaculation, the sperms have increased survival against lipid peroxidative attacks in the female genital tract, thereby increasing the chances of conception. On the other hand, similar animal studies have shown inhibition in the synthesis of prostaglandin E and prostaglandin F, which are produced in large quantities by human seminal vesicles. The research found no impact in the count and mobility of sperm.

Hair Care: Fish oil helps maintain a good luster of the hair. Omega three has hair growing properties as it provides nourishment to the follicles. It therefore aids in faster development of hair and preventing hair loss. A good supply of proteins is also necessary for hair growth. Since most fish varieties are rich in protein, eating fish helps in keeping healthy hair.

It is also believed that fish oil helps in asthma and kidney failure. Many people also like to feed fish oil to their pets especially dog and cat as it enables in the growth of shinny hair and smooth skin. It also helps the dogs and cats deal with arthritis, which is a very common disease among pets.

The National High Blood Pressure Education Program, US, has cautioned against wrongful publicity of fish oil as an effective means of lowering high blood pressure in patients suffering from hypertension. According to its report, fish oil supplements lowers high blood pressure only to a small extent in hypertensive patients. Research conducted at the Channing Laboratory, Boston, US has revealed that moderate doses of fish oil supplements have little effect on the condition of high blood pressure in normotensive persons.

Should we replace vegetable oils with fish oil? No. There are many websites which advice people to stop eating these vegetable oil and switch to fish oil for increasing the intake of omega 3 fatty acids. However, it should be noted that most of these websites take a bias towards fish oil to increase the sales of their products. There is no doubt that fish oil is one of the best sources of omega 3 essential fatty acids. However, other sources should also be consumed.

Here is a brief on Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids. There are three types of Omega 3 fatty acids, namely alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). All three are important for the body. Vegetable sources including flax seed oil, soybean oil, hemp oil, canola oil, walnut oil, rapeseed, perilla, chia and tofu are rich in ALA. The human body has the ability to convert ALA to DHA and EPA, though there are limitations to this conversion. It has been found that ALA is also useful in treating heart problems; however, the exact mechanism is yet unknown.

GLA, an important Omega 6 fatty acid, shows promise in the treatment of cancer. It is believed that GLA is useful in treating various problems including arthritis, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, skin problems, breast pain, premenstrual syndrome and diabetes. The best source for GLA is evening primrose oil.

Caution on dosage: Excessive dosage of fish oil can have adverse allergies and side effects on the body. Further, fish oil can be problematic in many conditions and hence it is necessary to fish oil supplements cautiously. You should consult a doctor or physician for the exact dosage of fish oil you should take. Moreover, fish oil can be consumed in various forms. These include eating the fish directly by baking, roasting, frying, grilling, broiling, or smoking it or eating fish oil which is available in the form of concentrated dietary supplements such as liquid, tablet, capsule, pill, soft gel, etc. Also, there are various pharmaceutical grades of fish oil. You should also consult your doctor to check the mode of eating fish oil.

Fish oil purity Purity of fish oil is also an important issue which one must pay attention to. Fish oil is obtained from fresh water, farm, ocean, deep sea and shallow sea fish. All these fish can be contaminated with toxic compounds such as mercury, arsenic, lead, forms of calcium, furans, dioxins, PCBs, and methyl mercury, and may affect the human body. Therefore, the fish oil should be pure. Many companies also sell ultra refined fish oil or distilled fish oil, but you should always check if the standards have been followed.

Fish oil and VitaminsVitamin A and Vitamin D: Fish oil, especially the one obtained from liver such as the cod liver oil, is a rich source of vitamin A and vitamin D. However, excessive dosage of cod liver oil can lead to Vitamin toxicity, accumulation of excessive vitamins in the body, which can cause side effects.

Vitamin E: There are various beliefs surrounding fish oil and vitamin E. These are:

Fish oil undergoes oxidation and can become rancid, leading to formation of free radicals. Addition of antioxidants such as vitamin E to fish oil can help prevent the formation of these free radicals.

Excessive dosage of fish oil leads to reduction of Vitamin E in the human body. This loss of vitamin E should be supplemented with external vitamin E supplements.

The combination of fish oil and vitamin E can have added benefit in the treatment of many cancers and heart diseases, than if they are used individually.

Preliminary research has been carried out which prove the above beliefs; however, these need to be substantiated with detailed research before drawing strong conclusions on the use of fish oil and vitamin E.

Body odor refers to the smell from a person’s body. This smell may be coming from skin, mouth parts, genitals, armpits or specific body parts. Factually, body has no smell of its own, as the sweat which is produced is composed of salts and water but it is the microbes residing on our skin which give us a characteristic odor when mixed with sweat.

This can be caused due to some of the following reasons- cavities, gingivitis or lung disorders which can be sensed through mouth parts, urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted disease, cancerous growth in body, diabetes or sugar, and certain inborn errors of metabolism. Also, the foods we consume give rise to malodour. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, smoking, onions, garlic, fatty diet, drugs, or toxins can also contribute to a foul body odor. In rare cases, where no body odor exists, an individual may report of having the same due to certain psychological reasons.

Symptoms of body odor include bad smell from body or any part specially groin and armpit region. Body odor becomes prominent at puberty when sweat glands are activated. This makes the person nervous and conscious.

According to the University of Illinois Medical Center, as soon as the body odor is noticed, one should consult a doctor to find the underlying cause. If there is tumour, chemotherapy needs to be given. Likewise foul odor arising from mouth parts, genitals or urine must be immediately be consulted and proper medication given. Psychological patients should also meet a therapist. Apart from these particular conditions, the regular body odor can also be kept at check by a number of home remedies. Some of these are discussed below

* Neem Leaf Extract: Neem leaves should be boiled in water and the drained extract collected. This is added to a bucket of water which is to be used to take bath. This has wonderful antimicrobial activity which can prevent not only from foul odor but also protect your skin against various fungal infections.

* Baking Powder and Lemon Juice: One of the best home remedies is by mixing 1 tablespoon each of baking powder and lemon juice and applying it over bod parts during summers. This keeps you from body odor.

* Antibacterial Soaps and Antiperspirant Deodorants: For bathing purposes, soaps containing lemongrass, neem extract and chamomiles should be used on a regular basis. Individuals who perspire heavily can also use deodorants that are antiperspirants, though they cause itching in some people.

* Proper Hygiene and Clean Clothes: Regular bath removes dead skin and microbes from us, thus one should make sure that the daily routine is strictly followed especially those having complaints of body odor. Not only hygienic conditions but also sometimes clothes contribute to the foul smell coming from the individual. Thus clean clothes that are made of fine fabric and comfortable to wear should be worn by people having problem of body odor.

* Keep Dry: According to Mayoclinic, after taking bath one should make sure to be completely dry using towel or driers and then wear clothes. Usually places which remain wet or damp provide excellent sites for growth and inhabitation of microbes. This also leads to prevention of bad odor, especially from armpits, feet and toes and genital area.

The Sweet Neem Leaf is a sought-after culinary herb when preparing curry dishes. It is so-called Sweet Neem due to its resemblance to the Neem Tree (which is also referred to as Black Neem). Botanically, the plant is known as Murraya Koenigii from the family Rutaceae and is known to be origin from India and Sri Lanka. Locally the plant especially the leaves are popularly known as Daun Kari (directly translate as Curry Leaves) or Kari Patta (Hindi). The main part of the plant that are widely use as culinary herb are the leaves. These pungent, aromatic leaves are often added to Indian & Asian cuisine such as rasam, curries, chutneys and even as one of the ingredients in preparation of the Indian snacks such as murukku.

Almost all parts of the plant have a strong characteristic odour. The plant loves medium which are rich in minerals and most matured plants will produce small, white scented flowers on a stalk which eventually will wither and produces green berries, turning dark purplish when ripe. These berries are edible but not the seeds. Propagation of the plant is by germination of these seeds, matured stems or plantlets that grown on the roots.

Almost all parts of the plants are known to have some medicinal properties. The leaves, barks & roots of the Sweet Neem Plant can be used for the preparation of tonic. The barks and roots are used as stimulant by physicians and are often traditionally use to cure eruptions and bites of poisonous animals. The leaves, apart from adding fragrant and imparting a very good flavour in curry dishes, if eaten raw can actually cure those suffering from dysentery.

A strong odoriferous* oil occurs in the leaves and seeds and this essential oil exhibited a strong antibacterial and antifungal activity. The branches are also popularly use traditionally for cleaning the teeth (especially in rural areas where owning a proper toothbrush is a luxury)and said to strengthen the gums & teeth.

In another book about herbs that I read recently, there's a mentioned about using the leaves traditionally for promoting shiny, black hair. A bundle of the Sweet Neem leaves are washed & dried. The dried leaves are then grind to a powdery form and by mixing a teaspoonful of this dried powdered leaves to a glass of water, drink as tea everyday for at least a continuous of 48 days...will actually encourage the growth of one's hair to be black & shiny. I guess, I should seriously consider trying this method real soon....bye,bye grey hair!!